Delhi's High Court came out for the homos this weekend.

As legislators and health officials butt heads over whether to decriminalize same-sex relations, the Court issued a harsh statement opining that homosexuality is not a disease:

"Show us one report which says that it is a disease. A WHO paper says that it is not a disease but you are describing it as a disease. It is an accepted fact that it is a main vehicle that causes (AIDS) disease, but it is not a disease itself," a Bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah said.

The Court's observation came when Additional Solicitor General P.P. Malhotra, appearing for the Centre, contended that homosexuality is a disease which is responsible for the spread of AIDS in the country.

"The AIDS is already spreading in the country and if gay sex is legalized then people on the street would start indulging in such practices saying that the High Court has given approval for it," Malhotra said.

Aside from being ignorant and offensives, Malhotra's arguments are being contradicted by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss. According to Ramadoss - and countless other experts the world over - prohibitive laws contribute to the spread of HIV, rather than containing it, as Malhotra would like to believe.

Indian Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss says he and "like-minded" leaders plan on meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the government's ongoing support of Section 377, a colonial era law prohibiting same-sex action. Ramadoss hopes to overturn the law, but other politicians insist it's for the good of the nation and have ignored Ramadoss' argument that Section 377 contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS. [PTI]

Infighting continues over same-sex love over in India.

A High Court last week ruled that their colonial era prohibitions should remain, but some in the government, particularly the Health Minister, insist the law, called Section 377, does more harm than good. But government leaders aren't having it and told the Court yesterday to ignore Minister Anbumani Ramadoss pleas, which include highlighting the rate of HIV infection among shamed gays.

…The Government on Monday told the Delhi High Court not to consider Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss’s views on legalising gay sex among consenting adults and said Section 377 of the IPC was “the will of Parliament and the people, how so wrong it may be”.

“Your Lordships can ignore the statements of the Minister…his statements cannot change the law,” said Additional Solicitor General PP Malhotra on Monday before a Bench of Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Muralidhar.

Such a stance astounds us - if a health official insists a population - and a nation - are in danger, we would be inclined to believe them.

"The removal of legal and social sanctions against homosexuality has positive ramifications that go beyond concerns of public health and which strengthen the foundations of a democratic polity." - Journalist Jug Suraiya (pictured) on Indian health minister Anbumani Ramadoss' push against Section 377, the part of the nation's penal code prohibiting same-sex relationships. [Times of India]

Indian Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss again reiterated his opposition to the nation's ban on gay sex. Said the politico: "Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalizes men who have sex with men, must go. I want to do away with it to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS… We need to accept it as a problem as the provision is preventing our work to control, curb and reverse the AIDS situation." [Thaindian]

Indian health minister Anbumani Ramadoss today came out against his nation's ban on gay sex, telling officials at an AIDS conference, "Section 377 of the [penal code], which criminalizes men who have sex with men, must go." [Hindustan Times]